543. Donato De Luca “Grand Romantic Gestures”

Happy Friday, Listeners!

Donato De Luca and his team brought their short film “Grand Romantic Gestures” to the Sherman Oaks Film Festival in 2024 and took home the Filmmakers Award for Outstanding Creativity – Drama. Amusingly, the young gentleman who I thought of as “Donato” for the entire run of the festival hopped onto this podcast and told me that he goes by Joe!                                                                                       I’m not sure if I called him Joe during this podcast, but hopefully he will come to a Festival Mixer soon for me to try it out in person.

Joe is one of those filmmakers, in this case producer and lead actor, who we love to have at a festival.                                                                                                                                                                       He came to many screenings other than his own and when you listen to the interview you’ll hear of the interactions we had that led to our amusing rapport.

You should definitely follow Joe’s work at @grandromanticgestures
and @donatojoedeluca

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Discover Indie Film Podcast Links
DIF Podcast WebsiteDIF InstagramDIF BlueSky

Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links
DIF FoundationSherman Oaks Film FestivalFilm Invasion Los Angeles

Source: Discover Film

THE BOY WHO EARNED HIS MAGIC

2025 Official Selection: Screenplay – Pilot/Series

When a boy’s mother vanishes after a car crash, he’s thrust into a perilous quest. Guided by an eccentric uncle and aided by three unfamiliar allies, he must confront dark forces and his own doubts to rescue his mother before an important birthday.

Writer(s): Lynn H. Elliott

Return to 2025 Official Selections – Screenplays

Source: FILA